Broncos coach Michael Maguire has opened up on how his players and staff spent their week on the bye, and dismissed concerns the team might have lost some momentum because of the break. Brisbane have won five in a row to put themselves in fifth place on the NRL ladder heading into Round 21.
Sitting four points behind the Warriors in fourth, the Broncos will be keen to continue their winning ways to try and secure a top-four finish to the regular season. They face the Parramatta Eels at home on Friday night, before another game at Suncorp against the lowly Rabbitohs.
Speaking on SEN radio this week, Maguire revealed he sent his players and staff away to be with family during their bye last week. While some coaches like to continue training so they don’t lose any momentum, Maguire saw an opportunity to give his team some much-needed down-time, and gave them a full five-day break to be with their loved ones.
When asked what the Broncos did on their break, Maguire said: “With family really. I’m usually pretty full-on with the players but when I get a chance I always love to get away with the family and just spend time at home. Dropping the kids at school and getting to their sporting events and things like that, so it was actually a nice little break.”
The Broncos coach admitted he’s aware that some teams come back from the bye a bit sluggish, but dismissed concerns his team will fall into that trap. “You get into a bit of a routine when you’re going week-to-week, and we’ve been fortunate to have that over the last month,” he said.
“But now we’ve got to make sure we take what we got out of that [and continue it]. I am aware that when you have a bit of a break you can break your rhythm, so we’ve got to jump straight into what we’re doing on Friday. We’ve got to be very aware that Parramatta can start strongly.”
Michael Maguire finally getting to use first-choice spine
With Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt all fit and firing, Maguire is finally getting the chance to utilise his first-choice spine. Walsh and Hunt have been out at different times with injuries, while Mam was suspended for the first nine games of the year.
But all four are finally available, and it’s an exciting time for Broncos fans. “I think they’re going to keep evolving over this next month,” Maguire said. “Hunty probably hasn’t played as much in the No.9 jersey, but his smarts about what he sees at 9 is going to be real helping hand. And that will release Ezra and Reecey. I’ve got two senior leaders and two X-factors there.
“We can play a controlled style but those boys can also express themselves when there’s a bit of space. It is exciting to have that spine back. It was what I was expecting to have when I first started, but we’ve managed to get there now. Each game we play I think we’ll get better and better.”
Maguire provided an insight into the type of person Walsh is behind closed doors. “He brings a lot of energy to every day,” he said. “He’s a livewire and he loves his footy, and that rubs off on everyone. When we add Reece and Ezra and the support they provide, we’re just a different team. The day-to-day training, he’s a real competitor and I love coaching those types of players.”
Broncos players feeling fresh after bye
The Broncos’ bye also provided their State of Origin players to freshen up and get their bodies right for the run home. Payne Haas has been battling some niggles, although Pat Carrigan didn’t carry the same workload he usually does for the Maroons, spending more time on the bench than in previous years.
“I’ve just learned over the past couple of years that it’s an opportunity to let yourself refresh,” Carrigan told AAP this week. “I was a bit guilty (in 2024) of just trying to double down and dive back into things. Madge (Maguire) gave us five or six days off, and that was really good to bring me back level-headed and back to my focus here. I feel really good.”
